In a historic decision, the Canadian Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that adults who are mentally competent and suffering intolerably and permanently have the right to seek a doctor's help in dying — and it doesn't matter if that suffering is physical or psychological. »2/06/15 9:30am 2/06/15 9:30am

With so many prominent scientists warning about the dangers of rogue artificial intelligence, and so many ethical concerns coming down the pike in A.I. research and computer science generally, how can computer experts educate themselves? By reading science fiction books. »1/29/15 2:20pm 1/29/15 2:20pm

Long a staple of science fiction, the idea of creating weapons that can disrupt or alter the cognitive processes of enemy combatants is starting to become reality. Inspired by recent advances in neuroscience, the U.S. military is considering the potential for "neuro-cognitive weapons". Here's what you need to know…»12/19/14 11:09am 12/19/14 11:09am

Yesterday, a New York appeals court rejected a lawsuit filed by the Nonhuman Rights Project seeking legal rights for Tommy, a 26-year-old chimp kept alone in a warehouse. Here's why the judges were wrong — and why that's actually good news in the struggle to recognize nonhuman animal personhood. »12/05/14 9:20am 12/05/14 9:20am

How much money would you pay to prevent a complete stranger from being administered an electric shock? And how would that compare to what you'd give up to prevent your own pain? A fascinating new experiment suggests we may be more altruistic than we think.»11/24/14 1:20pm 11/24/14 1:20pm

The tiny island nation of Comoros off Africa's east coast is being treated as a massive guinea pig experiment for Chinese scientists. More than 700,000 people have been given doses of an untested malaria drug that appears to be working. Regardless, critics are outraged by the approach. »11/11/14 11:20am 11/11/14 11:20am

Isaac Asimov's First Law of Robotics states that "a robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm." That sounds simple enough — but a recent experiment shows how hard it's going to be to get machines to do the right thing. »9/15/14 6:00pm 9/15/14 6:00pm

Should animals be permitted to hunt and kill other animals? Some futurists believe that humans should intervene, and solve the "problem" of predator vs. prey once and for all. We talked to the man who wants to use radical ecoengineering to put an end to the carnage. »7/30/14 11:36am 7/30/14 11:36am

In some ways, absolutely yes. That's the conclusion reached by researchers from NOAA and California State University, Channel Islands. And it mostly has to do with the distance that seafood travels from the ocean to your plate. »7/22/14 3:53pm 7/22/14 3:53pm

The United States is one of only a few countries in the world that recognizes corporations as persons. It's a so-called "legal fiction" that's meant to uphold the rights of groups and to smooth business processes. But it's a dangerous concept that's gone too far — and could endanger social freedoms in the future. »7/21/14 11:00am 7/21/14 11:00am

For over 20 years, the state of Indiana hoarded the blood of newborns without their parents' consent. If your child was born in Indiana after 1991, chances are his or her blood sample is one of an estimated 2.5-million specimens currently stored in a warehouse, the location of which state officials have not disclosed. »7/19/14 2:00pm 7/19/14 2:00pm

A powerful new technique called a "gene drive" is opening up incredible possibilities for the control and manipulation of wildlife. Leading researchers say we need to have a debate now about whether we should be shaping the genetics of whole populations of wild animals. »7/18/14 11:40am 7/18/14 11:40am

Saying it could have "a chilling effect on valuable research," over 30 ethicists have put their signatures on a column claiming that Facebook's clandestine and manipulative mood study was not inappropriate. »7/18/14 9:30am 7/18/14 9:30am

It won't be much longer before we start using personal robots to fulfil our erotic desires. But what if these sexbots will be used to mimic illegal sexual activities, such as pedophilia? The answer is surprisingly complicated. »7/15/14 7:30am 7/15/14 7:30am

I was recently re-watching "Becoming, Parts 1 and 2," those Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes where geeky witch Willow does a spell to give the vampire Angel his soul back. And suddenly I had a burning ethical question. »7/08/14 4:51pm 7/08/14 4:51pm

The ability to trigger feelings of extreme pleasure on-demand is a prospect that's fascinated both scifi writers and scientists for decades. Indeed, the day is coming when we'll be able induce orgasmic-like sensations at the flick of a switch — a prospect with obvious appeal, but with some serious downsides. »6/05/14 8:00am 6/05/14 8:00am

There's a lot absurd about Battlestar Galactica's trial of Gaius Baltar. And, yes, that was part of the point. But there was serious misconduct going on, and it shall not go unpunished. »5/30/14 12:00am 5/30/14 12:00am